Collectable Gift Holders

ABSTRACT

A gift holder of a container caddy or like receptacle attached to or detachably coupled with a stuffed animal, doll or figurine, with which a gift card, prepaid gift certificate, cash, check or other endearment is presentable as a collectable item.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

A Provisional Patent Application covering the invention described herein was filed on Aug. 4, 2014, and assigned Ser. No. 62/032,679.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to gift holders, in general, and to a gift holder in the nature of a container caddy pouch or like receptacle attached to or detachably coupled with a stuffed animal, doll or figurine as a collectable item.

2. Description of the Related Art

As is known, stuffed animals, dolls and like plush figurines are often given as gifts—ranging in size from 4-8 inches to as much as 3-4 feet and more. As is also well known, parents, grandparents—and other relative or just friends—instead give gifts by way of cash or check at meaningful, momentous occasions. The present invention modifies these manners of gift giving to one lending an essence of collectability. And, also, to an expanding promotional concept to retail merchants in so doing, whether big-box or otherwise.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manner of gift giving which is as least as sentimental and thought out as the presentment of stuffed animals, dolls or plush figurines, but something which is more lasting in nature than follows a mere opening of an envelope to received a cash or check gift.

It is an object of the invention, also, to provide a manner of presentment that itself allows a degree of collectability by a recipient of such items, suitable for purposes of prideful display.

It is another object of the invention to provide this manner of gift giving in a way that not only is welcoming to a recipient, but further lends itself to enhanced revenues to a manufacturer and/or retailer at the same time, as a growth-producing item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the cash or checks previously given are replaced by gift certificates-gift cards, which are then presented to a recipient in a new and novel manner primarily through the use of stuffed animals, dolls and like plush figurines. In particular, a pre-paid gift certificate-gift card, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is presented within a container caddy coupled with at least one of the head and back segmental portions of the animal, doll or figurine, or with its left or right extremities, with the container caddy being detachably connected or attached therewith. With the container caddy being in the form of a pouch, a bag, a box, a sack, a basket, a case, or other like carrier-holder receptacle, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be seen to be one where the container caddy is in the form of a fabric, vinyl or leather composed holder detachably connected between left and right extremities of a stuffed animal—although it could similarly be draped to hang around its head as a necklace ornament, or backpack. As a sales promotion item, the pouch could additionally be configured to include a display of indicia identifying the merchant from whom the collectable gift card holder of the invention was purchased.

In a more general embodiment of the invention, on the other hand, the container caddy can further be arranged to receive gifts even by way of cash, checks, gift certificates—gift cards or other forms of endearment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings in which:

FIGS. 1-4 are front, side, rear and sectional views of a stuffed animal illustrative of one manner of presentation of a gift via a container caddy holder no matter the form the gift may take, helpful in an understanding of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will become clear, gift certificate-gift cards as employable with the invention are noting more than store value transaction cards similar to prepaid credit cards that carry a monetary value. Perhaps, in most common usage, they are purchased from racks at grocery store check-out counters or convenience stores, allowing the holder of the card to purchase goods or services from any merchant associated with the card.

Where so displayed, the card typically is of a standard height and width—most often provided with a hook-hole for hanging. Usually, the cards are purchased for redemption of products and/or services at locations other than the place of their purchase. Typical store value transactions cards are used for chain restaurants, iTunes® purchases from Apple Inc., movie theater admissions, and the like. When so purchased, of standardized dimensions, they may come or be placed by the merchant in a small envelope—at the most, identifying where the card may be used—and at the least, printed with a generic or impersonal design.

These prepaid cards, referred to as “gift cards” in accordance with their usage with one aspect of the invention, are inserted into (and preferably protruding from) fabric, vinyl or leather-type container caddy holders detachably connected to left and right extremities or paws of stuffed animals 18 given as part of the gift as depicted at 10 in FIGS. 1-4—the cards themselves being shown at 20. Left and right upper extremities or paws of a stuffed animal are shown at 12, temporarily secured by sewn string threads extending outwardly into side edges 14, 16 of the container caddy. To enhance identification, the caddy 10 may be inscribed with a logo or brand of the merchant where the stuffed animal is obtained, as at 22—and with the expectation that the gift card taken from the caddy will be used for purchases or services rendered at that merchant's own store location. As FIGS. 1-4 illustrate, once the strings are snipped or cut with a scissors, the container caddy 10 can be removed and discarded, if desired—with the stuffed animal 18 then being able to be placed to sit and rest on its own haunches or lower extremities 26 for display in a home setting environment. Two or more stuffed animals can equally be set up as a store shelf arrangement of stuffed animals waiting for a gift card insertion at whatever transaction value is purchased.

In the front view sketch version of FIG. 1, a gift card 20 is shown placed into the container caddy 10. Preferably sized larger than the caddy in one embodiment of the invention, the gift card 20 is of a length so that when emplaced into the caddy 10, a portion of it protrudes upwardly for it to be readily identified as such. Its somewhat smaller width allows the card 20 to slide easily into the pouch for placement, and to be easily removed therefrom by the receiving recipient. Both the front view sketch of FIG. 1 and the rear view sketch of FIG. 3 show the stuffed animal resting on its haunches so that the stuffed animal can sit upright and erect. Alternatively, the gift card (or cash, or check, or other form of endearment) can be sized smaller then the container caddy 10 of the invention, so as to fit comfortably wholly within it.

The left side view sketch of FIG. 2 and the sectional view sketch of FIG. 4 illustrate the placement of the gift card 20 within the container caddy 10 and the protruding of the gift card 20. In such manner of construction, the sewn string threads attach, for example, to the upper extremities, paws or limbs and to opposite side edges of the upper portion of the caddy so that the caddy does not hang loose. And, as will be appreciated, the container caddy itself can be manufactured to reflect different colors and designs, so as to celebrate such occasions as birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. As a marketing enhancement to such retail merchants as Walmart, Costco, Macy's, etc., the caddy 10 alternatively or additionally, can be provided on a front face thereof at 22 with a logo or design of the merchant for the gift card and stuffed animal to not only be purchased at that location, but also to use the gift card there, hopefully, as well (instead of just the “I Love You Heart” at 22 in FIG. 1).

Although apparent for advantageous and desirable use in presenting gifts to children through teenage years, the collectable gift and stuffed animal holder of the invention can also be used for adult gift giving. In such instance, the logo on the container caddy 10 could be that of Tiffany's or Victoria's Secret (for a woman's gift obtaining there, for example), or of professional or college sports teams or individuals (for men's redemptions), or of Nike, Addidas or Under Armour (for both male and female recreational clothing favoring wearers). And, as before, once the caddy is cut away and discarded, then the “resting” stuffed animal can remain as a collectable remembrance of the occasion as well as the extent to which its gift carrying card or other gift presentation was used.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with respect to stuffed animals, it will be readily appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular such configuration. Those arrangements may instead vary as may be deemed expedient, to include animals and dolls, athletic figurines plush or otherwise, and other likenesses—all detachably securing the container caddy and attaining the same collectable item result with the gift emolument and by substantially the same means to attain substantially the same results. Thus, for example, instead of a merchant's logo, design, brand or name being inscribed on the caddy 10, the caddy might be left unmarked, without any indicia on it, or with a generic endearment indicant as the heart 22 of FIG. 1, or the name of the intended recipient, or otherwise, marked there. Similarly, the stuffed animal, plush animal, doll or figurine can be constructed so as to stand upright and be snuggled, rather than to rest and sit on its haunches. Also, if so desired, the container caddy 10 can be affixed to the described extremities instead of being removable therefrom by a scissors stripping—all so as to be detachably connected between the extremities. And, for those parents, grandparents, relatives and friends desirous of just giving “cash”, “check” or other emoluments instead of a prepaid gift certificate or gift card, they, too, can simply insert such gift into the container caddy holder and present it along with the stuffed animal, doll or figurine, still as a collectable item. For at least such reasons, therefore, resort should be given to the following claims defining the scope of this invention. Thus, as will be seen, the present invention relates to a collectible gift holder comprising a stuffed animal, doll or figurine; and a container caddy coupled therewith; with the container caddy being sized to receive endearments of the class including gift cards, cash, checks and other emoluments; and with the stuffed animal, doll or figurine configured to rest on haunches thereof in display presentation. 

We claim:
 1. A collectable gift holder comprising: a stuffed animal, doll or figurine having head and back segmental portions and left and right limb extremities; and a container caddy coupled with at least one of said segmental portions and said left and right extremities.
 2. The collectable gift holder of claim 1 wherein said container caddy is sized to receive endearments of the class including gift cards, cash, checks and other emoluments.
 3. The collectable gift holder of claim 2 wherein said container caddy is constructed of a fabric, vinyl or leather composition.
 4. The collectable gift card holder of claim 2 wherein said container caddy is connected with at least one of said head and back segmental portions and said left and right extremities of said stuffed animal, doll or figurine.
 5. The collectable gift holder of claim 2 wherein said container caddy is connected between left and right upper limb extremities of said stuffed animal, doll or figurine.
 6. The collectable gift holder of claim 2 wherein said container caddy is detachably connected with at least one of said head and back segmental portions and said left and right extremities of said stuffed animal, doll or figurine.
 7. The collectable gift holder of claim 6 wherein said container caddy is detachably connected between left and right upper limb extremities of said stuffed animal, doll or figurine by string threads attaching to edges thereof.
 8. The collectable gift holder of claim 1 wherein said container caddy is detachably connected between left and right upper limb extremities of said stuffed animal, doll or figurine by string threads attaching to edges thereof.
 9. The collectable gift holder of claim 1 also including a prepaid gift certificate-gift card within said container caddy.
 10. The collectable gift holder of claim 9 wherein said prepaid gift certificate-gift card is of a given store sales-price valuation.
 11. The collectable gift holder of claim 10 wherein said container caddy includes a display of indicia of a merchant from whom said stuffed animal, doll or figurine is obtained.
 12. The collectable gift holder of claim 9 wherein said prepaid gift certificate-gift card protrudes outwardly from said container caddy.
 13. The collectable gift holder of claim 2 wherein said stuffed animal, doll or figurine is configured to rest upon haunches thereof.
 14. The collectable gift holder of claim 1 also including a generic endearment within said container caddy.
 15. The collectable gift holder of claim 9 wherein said prepaid gift certificate-gift card protrudes outwardly from said container caddy, wherein said container caddy is detachably connected with at least one of said head and back segmental portions and said left and right limb extremities of said stuffed animal, doll or figurine by string threads attaching to edges thereof, wherein said container caddy is constructed of a fabric, vinyl or leather composition, and wherein said container caddy is in the form of one of a pouch, a bag, a box, a sack, a basket and a case.
 16. The collectable gift holder of claim 15 wherein said container caddy includes one of a generic indicant for a recipient of said gift holder and a logo or design on a front face of said container caddy.
 17. The collectable gift holder of claim 15 wherein said prepaid gift certificates-gift card is of a given store sales-price valuation.
 18. A collectable gift holder comprising: a stuffed animal, doll or figurine; and a container caddy coupled therewith; with the container caddy being sized to receive endearments of the class including gift cards, cash, checks and other emoluments; and with the stuffed animal, doll or figurine configured to rest on haunches thereof in display presentation.
 19. The collectable gift holder of claim 18 wherein said prepaid gift certificate-gift card protrudes outwardly from said container caddy, wherein said container caddy is detachably connected with at least one of head and back segmental portions and left and right limb extremities of said stuffed animal, doll or figurine by string threads attaching to edges thereof, wherein said container caddy is constructed of a fabric, vinyl or leather composition, and wherein said container caddy is in the form of one of a pouch, a bag, a box, a sack, a basket and a case. 